Seismograph



1942- M. D. MCCARTY SEISMOGRAPH 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1959 Suva-rot tents snrsrroonn Malcolm D. McCarty, Dallas, ll'ein, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Socony-Vacu @il Company, Incorporated, New York, N. lL, a corporation of New Yorlr Application time 29, less, serial in. across ll claim. (cl. 171-352)- This invention relates to improvements in seismic prospecting methods and apparatus and is directed more particularly to a method and apparatus for recording seismic waves by means of an improved type of geophone.

In the art of seismic prospecting it is customary to creatic seismic waves in the surface of the earth by detonating a charge of explosives. These waves emerging from the point of detonation travel by various paths, and are detected by suitable detecting devices commonly known in the art as geophones. These detecting devices, or geophones, generate electrical signals that are in sympathy with the seismic waves dethenormal detecting devices, it is extremely difficult to record reflected wave energy with sulficient magnitude that the onset of the reflected Wave signals are distinguishable. Efiorts have been made to survey areas where these unfavorable conditions exist by using a plurality of these detecting units connected in multiple to give increased reflected signal strength which would stand out over the signals resulting from the local disturbances which have been recorded, Such an arrangementintroduces objectionable features such as unbalancing the amplifier by changing the impedance of the input circuit, the necessity for burying a plurality of units at a particular tected and after amplification are recorded by detecting. station, the use of detecting units havmeans of a'recording galvanometer. The recording dissimilar characteristics and improper coning galvanometer has associated with it means nection of the units one to the other. tor indicating the instant of detonation and 2. Applicant overcomes these difiiculties by incortiming device for placing time indications on the porating a plurality of detecting units, adapted to record at regularly spaced time intervals. From oscillate vertically, in a single case, th magnithe record, made in this manner one is abl to tude of the signal generated-by each unit being obtain-all the data necessary, from which to dedependent upon the impulse that sets the case termine the dip of sub-surface strata and make in-i'notion. depth profiles of the strata forming the surface This invention in addition to having the adof the earth. vantagesenumerated above also permits of a A record made in the above described manner method of seismic surveying which will give on consists of direct travelling Waves, those waves a r c de Seismflgram o d t Will be an travelling directly from the point of detonation tu l physical Overap between detecting of the explosive to the detecting units, and retions. This feature is of para o importance flected waves, those waves which travel downin that it is an aid in the interpretation of the .wardly from-the point of detonation of the exseismogram. That is, a record formed in this plosive charge to sub-strata interfaces and are manner will enable the interpreter to follow the reflected back to the detecting units. In addireflected signals from an outside trace on the tion to generating these beneficial waves at the eismogram ompl te y across all traces recorded point of detonation of the explosive charge, many thereon. This method of recording is particuother wave components are created in the earths larly advantagefl s in continuous P e W suriace which have no beneficial significance. Oftimes it is desirable to lay spreads, for Moreover, some of these undesirable components venience, along the ys djacent. power oftimes impair the value of the seismogram in r n mis ion lines. ince he req nc of the that they tend to obliterate or obscure those sigp wer bein transmitted Over these es s $0 nals from which useful data are obtained. In cl e to hat f the frequency of the signals that? many localities a slow traveling surface. Wave is it s des red to record,.difficulties are encountere created, commonly known in the art as grodnddue to electrical D D y h um611w. roll, which due to its low velocity andhigh en- With the apparatus herein disclosed, by proper ergy content tends to obscure reflections arriv- Orientation of 5119 units Within the casinfi, this ing from shallow sub-strata interfaces. difficulty is obviated as illust ted by th prior a t, numerous t- In addition to the above recited advantageous tempts, which have not proven entirely successfeatures, the mul p unit fmming t Subjct iul. have been made to eliminate the harmful matter of this appli i n, is mp and readefiects or this slow travelling surface wave. The i y j a le to meet the needs encountered instant invention is believed to provide a definite in a y pa ul area that it is desired-to exsolutlon to this problem. plore.

in exploring certain areas by. seismic prospecterefore, t e p imary object of.this inven' lng methods, the noise level, due to locally existtion resides in a method of seismic survey that conclltions, ls extremel high and by using an be practiced by the use of a novel apparatus in the form of a compact multiple unit geophone that can be readily adjusted to meet the needs encountered in a particular area that it is desired to explore.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a method for eliminating objectionable ground-roll by the use of multiple units which can be spaced in a collinear plane with the shot at intervals of approximately the wave length of the ground-roll wave.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of an apparatus whereby seismograph traces which result from physically overlapping detecting stations can be recorded.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a geophone that comprises a casing having mounted therein, adapted for vertical oscillation, two identical units one of which can be oriented relative to the other.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of means whereby reflected waves received by two detecting elements can be com-- bined for purpose of emphasizing reflected wave energy over that of signals resulting from high noise levels.

This invention also contemplates the provision of a compact unit having enclosed in a single casing independent vibrating elements adapted to be oriented one with respect to the other for the purpose ofeliminating electrical pick-up.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered with the attached drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the device showing the casing in cross section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the contactor carried by the bottom end;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the contacting arms carried by the top element;

Figure 4 is a side view of the contactors shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus taken along the lines t--% of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the inertia assemblies.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly Figure 1, there is shown a casing l comprising three parts, a bottom part 2, an intermediate part 3 and a cap l. Mounted within the casing II are two identical detecting units ii and ii, diilering only in their electrical connections. Inasmuch as the two units are identical, a detailed description of the mechanical construction of only one will be given. Each unit has formed on the top thereof a cylindrical plug l whose peripheral surface is threaded at t and 9, the bottom set of threads b being adapted to engage the bottom portion 2 of the casing, while the top set of threads t areadapted for engagement with the middle portion 3 of the casing. These two sets of threads serve to join the two sections of the casing together.

Pending from this cylindrical plug l is a stirrup it having substantially Y-shaped side arms it. A core H is secured between the Y-members iii and carried thereby in substantially horizontal position. A winding 02 formed about the core ii is provided with electrical conductors I3 which are brought upwardly through the cylindrical plug'l in the top of the casing and outside through an insulating sleeve Ml and conventional packing It.

Referring particularly to Figure 6, an inertia accuse assembly is formed by securing two subs tially horse-shoe shaped permanent magnets all and ll in a position such that unlike poles oi the respective magnets are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the armature II. The magnets l6 and. H are held in spaced relationship by bars [Hi1 and iii which have been formed from a nonmagnetic metal, such as brass.

The inertia assembly is resiliently mounted by means of the leaf springs 2t and BI in the stirrup in such a manner that the armature H is disposed between the pole faces of the two magnets. By resiliently mounting this inertia assembly, it will oscillate in a vertical plane rela tive to the armature ll. Since the armature l l completes the magnetic circuit for these magnets, any change in the length of the air gaps between the pole faces of the magnets and the armature, due to oscillation of the magnetic assembly, will produce changes in the flow of flux through the armature which will generate a voltage in the winding if! carried by the armature. This voltage generated in the winding is conducted to the input of a suitable amplifier where it is amplified and then recorded by a conventional recording galvanometer.

In order to compensate for the weight of the magnetic assembly and properly space the pole faces of the magnets from the armature ll, a compensating spring 22 is used. The'upper end of this compensating spring is secured by suitable fastening means 23 to the cylindrical plug l, while the lower end of the compensating spring is adjustably secured to the magnetic assembly. lBy properly tensioning the spring 22 the air gaps above and below the armature M can be equalized so that when the inertia assembly is stationary, relative to the armature and easing, the reluctance of both the upper and lower magnetic paths will be substantially equal and the flux through one path will balance that in the other path. This condition will exist until an impulse is delivered to the case i that will cause movement of the armature ll relative to the inertia assembly.- Any relative movement of these parts will cause a change in the flux flowing in the armature l l which in turn will generate voltages that are in sympathy with the movement of the case II.

The armature coil M of the bottom detecting unit it is provided with conductors 25 that are connected at their upper ends to the rotary contactor whose elements are shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Connection is made through this rotary contactor to conductors 26 which are brought up through the top cylindrical plug '5 and out through the insulating sleeve it in a similar manner to that described in connection with conductors it.

The rotary contactor consists of a disc El of insulating material that is secured to the top of the lower cylindrical plug 1. A conducting ring it is secured to the upper face of the disc El and is adapted to make electrical contact with the secured to the center of the insulating disc 2i. By using a rotary contactor of this character it is possible to rotate one of the units relative to the other for the purpose of orientation.

In order. to facilitate handling of these units, t casing i is provided at the top thereof with an eye-bolt it through which can be passed a chain, rope or other means whereby the apparatns is made portable. f

In conducting seismic surveys these new type multiple geophones can be spaced from the shot point and from each other in the conventional mer. to the fact that each geophone contains two detecting units, advantageous combinations of external connections can be made. Where the geophones are located adjacent power on lines, the units in each casing can oriented with respect to each other for the w @wof eliminating electrical pick-up. The 1 two ta can be connected either in series or 1; ilel with each other for the purpose of produc t l1 increased S nal stren h.

Still another important arrangement of the be connected in series or Parallel with a detec unit in another for the P p se of elimii ME by l-l ation signals such as those produced by slow travelling earth waves and forming' a record, each trace of which will be an actual physical overlap between two detecting stations in a spread. Other combinations of connections when using the new multiple type geophone will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim: An electrical seismograph detecting unit comprising in combination a case, top and bottom independent detecting units vertically disposed 7 within said case, means for mounting said units wi -ones is that a detecting unit in one case 20 in said case for oscillation in vertical planes, each detecting unit having a. horizontally disposed coil, means forming a rotary contactor for making an electrical connection between the bottom detecting unit and the conductors that are adapted to conduct the electrical signals, which have been generated by the bottom unit, to a point outside the case whereby said units can be rotated relative to each other to place their coils in hum-bucking relationship.

.MALoomr n. MccAR'rY. 

